Florida Tourism Expected To Increase From World Series

Kool at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

Whoever wins the World Series, Florida will benefit from the economic impact.

Both the Astros and Nationals play their spring training home games in West Palm Beach and travel across the state to face the 13 other Major League teams that play here in March.

George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, says spring training is a tourist magnet.

"Not only Floridians that are traveling to other destinations, but we have a great influx of visitors from around the country that will come and spend anywhere from a weekend or weeks with us."

Linley says springtime baseball has always been a boon.

"It's a huge tourism driver for the entire state. There's only two states in our country that come to spring training and we have 15 teams and the Cactus League in Arizona has 15 teams."

There was an 11.5 percent increase in tourism from Houston in Palm Beach after the Astros won their first World Series two years ago and Linley expects the entire state will see increases from both Houston and the DC area next spring.

"The 2019 season in Palm Beach County represents a $70 million impact."

And he's sure the numbers will increase.

"Now that both these teams are in the World Series...I anticipate that spring training for 2020 will have a rising visitor, a rising attendance so that means more tourism and hopefully greater economic impact for the Palm Beaches."

So it's just a coincidence that the teams playing in the same stadium are both in the World Series, right?

"I think we have some great facilities that create champions and when you come to Palm Beach County, you're playing baseball in our community, you are playing on the field of champions so no I don't think it's a coincidence actually."

Game one of the World Series is Tuesday night in Houston.


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